It’s that time of year again—December! This month is known for many things, like the weather getting colder, snow, and the sun setting earlier. But it’s mostly known for everyone’s favorite holiday: Christmas!
Religious Origin of Christmas
Christmas is typically celebrated on the 25th or 24th, depending on your culture. It’s known for bringing families together, exchanging gifts, and decorating homes with lights and Christmas trees. While that’s one way to celebrate, Christians observe the holiday as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas has been celebrated in America since 1870, and it’s a holiday enjoyed by many—unless one follows a different religion.
Christmas vs. Hannukah
While Christmas plays a central role in many cultures, not everyone celebrates it. Jewish people don’t celebrate Christmas. Instead, they celebrate Hanukkah. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, will be celebrated from December 25 to January 2 this year. It marks the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC. During Hanukkah, a candle is lit each night to symbolize the spreading of God’s light.
Legends of Christmas
Along with its religious traditions, Christmas is filled with colorful legends that add magic to the holiday season.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph is famous for his bright red nose and as one of the most well-known reindeer on Santa’s sleigh. There are seven movies made about him. Rudolph has many friends who also help lead the sleigh, including Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. These reindeer work alongside Rudolph to guide the sleigh.
Elves
Elves are known for being Santa’s little helpers. They are the ones who make the toys and gifts we receive for Christmas. Elves are very small, usually around 2 feet tall, with pointy ears, and they wear outfits in colors like green, red, and white. In addition to making toys, all elves have another important job: taking care of the reindeer.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is one of the most well-known Christmas legends and serves as the main mascot of the holiday. He lives at the North Pole with his wife and his magical reindeer. Santa keeps track of the nice and naughty lists to determine if we’ve been good enough for presents or if we’ll receive coal for being bad. He also oversees all the elves who work in his toy workshop at the North Pole.
Conclusion
Christmas is filled with interesting traditions, from its origins to the various ways different cultures celebrate it. It’s truly a special holiday, allowing us to create wonderful memories with family and friends. With Christmas just around the corner, Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Holidays!
